<p>Most seniors have checked out mentally from school after APs, and that last month anyway.</p>
<p>Why not have a class, say one day a week, minimum that replaces another class (it can rotate, so each class is only substituted for a couple of times).</p>
<p>Have that class teach some life skills like- how to open a bank account, fill out a basic tax form, read a lease, look at credit card agreements, pay bills, balance a checking account, invest, etc.</p>
<p>Another time, some house skills, laundry, fire safety, food safety, etc.</p>
<p>After reading these threads with college students having no clue about some basic stuff, wouldn't it be great to send them off with some skills we may forget or assume they have?</p>
<p>Missing a french or math or science class one time each, and replacing it with something they will need to use right away would be pretty helpful, imo.</p>
<p>I agree 1000%. It’s a great idea, and I’ll even go one further and say I think a basic life skills class should be mandatory for all students before they graduate - a semester-long class that teaches basic skills.</p>
<p>My kid had a class called “Home and Careers” in middle school that covered all of that. Did any of it stick? Not that I could see, but I saw the textbook and all the sheets that came home. It could have been a good course if they’d been paying any attention at all. I showed mathson how to use the washing machine before he left for college. It didn’t stop him from giving me a phone call the first time he had to deal with one in college. My younger son used to do laundry for extra allowance money and I suspect will be less clueless. He also likes to cook. We talked about investing with older son the first time he had a chunk of money. He opened a Roth IRA and put money in it.</p>
<p>Son took only APs and two choirs last year…by mid-May, the AP tests were done and both choirs had had their final concerts. He could have devoted full time to life skills. That would have been great.</p>
<p>I think this is so important but I don’t understand why this seems to be disappearing from childhood. It shouldn’t have to be part of school. But what has happened to the college kids I teach that are so good with academic skills but seem increasingly clueless in other ways.</p>
<p>Everyday life is educational and also builds confidence. Kids can open their own bank accounts (with you along). Teens can and should search for, read the fine print and figure out the best cell phone deal. They can be great for researching and planning vacations too. Making, changing, getting themselves to their dental and orthodontist appointments? Emailing people in the community and making their own resumes when it comes to jobs and volunteer work? Doing laundry, buying groceries, cleaning or making dinner? Why wouldn’t they be doing this already at home? And well, just learning skills through daily interaction over the course of years with your family? “Hey, don’t put that in the bowl, it had the raw chicken in it”; “You might want to start the email with Mr” ; “half the soap will work just as well…”</p>
<p>Too busy with school and ECs? College and careers and success in those are just as important and busy as highschool.</p>
<p>I have been advocating this idea for several years now to no avail… In my mind we as a society are failing by failing to educate our kids in this manner. </p>
<p>I’d add to the list - how to vote (e.g. operate the machine), how to turn off the water and/or power at the house, how to cook, how to clean, etc.</p>
<p>Our school does require them to pass a swimming test and pass CPR but those skills should also be on the list</p>
<p>A course S signed up for was canceled and he had to fill his schedule.
Not much looked interesting to him so he signed up for “Personal Finance.” I think this is a math course aimed at LD kids–teaches about bank accounts, credit, mortgages, taxes, etc.</p>
<p>I have a feeling this is going to be much more useful than Calculus. (Wish H knew about this stuff. . .)</p>
<p>Not in our school (which doesn’t let out until late June). All AP courses have projects due after the May tests, and such projects are worth 10-15% of the final grade, so they can’t skipped.</p>
<p>Why can’t parents teach their kids these important things? Such a class also would be a waste of time or the kids whose parents already have taught them those life skills. For instance, my kids started being responsible for their laundry at age 10, and had their own bank accounts by the time they were in high school.</p>
<p>Or teach them some things that appear to be a “lost art” so to speak. My DS, who is attending a very good school, does not know how to address an envelope! I got a phone call, “Mom, where does the stamp go?” Could he possibly have been serious?</p>
<p>The electronic age is taking over I think. :-))))</p>
<p>Not much of this needs/should to be taught in the schools. I think it would be fine if it were an optional class for kids that don’t get these lessons or experience already at home but in general learning these things is just part of living and learned along the way.</p>
<p>I have to say, how many of you have taught your kids how to read a lease? how many have taught your kids how to read a credit card agreement, read a voter pamphlett.</p>
<p>The laudnry was just to add a note of levity, but some basic life and business skills, these kids have no clues, and we as parents can try our best to show them how to liive, but we miss stuff.</p>
<p>What if your kid is in a car accident? Will they know how to navigate the insurance process, when not to sign, when to sign?</p>
<p>DO you kids know how complete basic tax forms? Do they know how to get out of a lease? </p>
<p>What about the loan applications they need for college?</p>
<p>We can laugh off the laundry and cooking, etc, but if we take a look at the economic climate, i think teaching these kids some real life skills, real busines math, real consequences of buying a house, etc, i think we would be doing these kdis a favor.</p>
<p>How many who scoff have actually sat down and explained a lease?</p>